Metal generates water; this is the fourth of the Five Elements' tribulations—the tribulation of the North Water.
Water is said to flow downwards, representing coldness while also being the beginning of nourishing all things, the initial cradle for the growth of all life.
In this suffocating darkness, Zhang Yaqi's body, though seated, swayed as if floating in the air.
Silence. There was absolute silence all around her. There was no sound, no smell, and no light.
Her hearing, smell, sight, and touch all ceased to function at this moment. Even her mind was in a state of absolute stillness.
Who am I? Why am I here? What am I doing here?
The thought flashed through her mind, but only for a fleeting moment.
Her mind was clouded; she felt nothing. Her thoughts had ceased; there was no more fluctuation.
"The Fourth Tribulation".
"What?" Xiao Wenbing asked, clenching his sweaty hands.
"This is already the fourth tribulation."
"So what?"
"The first three tribulations of the Five Elements Tribulation are three extremely severe and cruel tortures. Those who can survive them are extremely rare. But since ancient times, only the White Egret Ancestor has been able to pass this fourth tribulation," Feng Baiyi said softly.
What kind of torture was this?
"It's not torture, it's warmth, it's returning you to the womb before your rebirth, that incomparable, absolute warmth."
"Will Yaqi be able to get through this?"
"have no idea."
Xiao Wenbing suddenly took a breath and said, "It's alright. Yaqi has already survived three tribulations. Even if she fails to survive this one, it's no big deal. As for the Qiankun Ring, it's definitely hers."
Feng Baiyi turned her head, her eyes even colder than the ancient ice of ten thousand years: "In a quarter of an hour, this darkness will gradually dissipate. If Zhang Yaqi cannot wake up from the darkness before then, she will never wake up."
"Why?" Xiao Wenbing suddenly reached out and grabbed Feng Baiyi's jade wrist tightly, asking sharply.
"If she were to become immersed in this warmth, her soul and spirit would be submerged and devoured by the black water, leaving only silence and annihilation of both body and soul. This is the true face of the merciless water hidden behind the warmth."
Xiao Wenbing's face was pale as he turned to gaze at the thick, almost impenetrable darkness.
His heart was pounding. He tried his best to hold back the passage of time, but whether it was just his imagination or not, he found that the darkness seemed to be fading.
"Has it been fifteen minutes?" he murmured.
"Yes." The voice was equally cold, as if it had never carried any emotion.
"Hehe..." Xiao Wenbing flipped his wrist, and a glimmer of light appeared in his palm. It was the life-saving golden talisman he had taken back from Feng Baiyi.
What are you going to do?
An unexpected smile appeared on Xiao Wenbing's face, but this smile was even more heart-wrenching than a loud wail.
He glanced back at Feng Baiyi, a deep look in his eyes, and said softly, "I'll go pick Yaqi up."
Similarly, under the watchful eyes of countless people, Xiao Wenbing took firm steps and stepped into the red light that everyone avoided like the plague.
step……
Starting from his toes, the flames spread upwards along the red area he stepped into, mercilessly scorching his entire body until it turned into ash that drifted in the wind.
The calamity in the south was so severe that flames engulfed the bodies, reducing them to ashes.
Eleven steps...
His steps slowed down, each step requiring all his strength. He carried an immense burden, his body seemingly torn to pieces, never to be mended.
The calamity that befell the Central Plains was like Mount Tai pressing down, shattering everything in its path.
Twenty-one steps...
His body began to tremble. Every flash of light seemed to take away a piece of his flesh. Pain... that kind of excruciating, bone-deep pain, an intense and inescapable feeling.
The calamity in the West was like being torn to pieces, causing unbearable pain.
Yaqi, is this what happened to you just now? Tears kept welling up in Xiao Wenbing's eyes. He stared at the darkness in front of him, where faint white shadows had appeared. Suddenly, his weak legs began to move again.
Every movement felt like tearing open countless scars on his body, adding to his pain.
However, his heart ached even more, as if it were bleeding profusely, as if his intestines were being torn apart, the pain was unbearable.
"Yaqi, I've come to pick you up..."
Volume 3, Chapter 92: The Tribulation of the Five Elements (Part 3)
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Step Thirty-One...
His body disappeared into the darkness, but his hand stretched out to its limit, with a dazzling light in his palm. Even in the darkness that could devour everything, this light did not weaken in the slightest.
His palm was facing the only vaguely visible human figure.
But his steps grew slower and slower...
Who am I? Why am I here? What am I doing here?
The exact same thought flashed through his mind, just as briefly.
His mind began to blur, and he lost all sensation. His thoughts had become still, devoid of any fluctuation.
However, his feet did not stop, his hands did not lower, and that glittering light gradually approached that slender figure, bit by bit.
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Closer, closer, even closer.
The old Taoist's hands trembled slightly. He naturally knew what that glimmer of light was. At this moment, he no longer cared whether it was worth it. His only thought was to hurry, hurry, and hurry.
His Taoist robe fluttered without wind, as if it were about to ride the wind away. He desperately suppressed his impulse, because he knew...
The Five Elements and the Five Tribulations are equal for everyone, and their severity is not affected by one's cultivation level. He was not confident that he could pass the Five Elements Tribulations, and he had no confidence that he could even pass the first three tribulations safely.
If he acts impulsively and rashly enters the Five Elements Circle, he might not only fail to save people, but also be the one saved.
“***…” Old Daoist Xianyun cursed under his breath. Then he realized that, given his status and the presence of these fellow Daoists of his generation, he shouldn’t have uttered such vulgarities.
"he***……"
The old Taoist priest was taken aback. He wondered if there was something wrong with his ears, that someone could actually say the same thing.
"Damn it..."
With his mouth wide open in a very unseemly manner, the old Taoist priest turned his head to look.
The Sect Master of Tianyi Sect and Zhang Daoren both clenched their fists, their faces filled with gritted teeth. Judging from their expressions, they seemed to wish they could rush in and push Xiao Wenbing away before they would be satisfied.
Countless astonished gazes were fixed on the three of them.
The three old Taoist priests suddenly realized what was happening, calmed themselves, and chanted loudly, "Infinite Heavenly Venerable..."
However, their voices abruptly stopped, and their gazes all turned to the area within a ten-step radius shrouded in faint darkness.
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Quietly, in complete darkness, surrounded by a captivating and serene silence.
Here, you don't need to think about anything, you don't need to worry about anything. Just lying here quietly is enough.
However, something still lingered in her heart—a deep and unforgettable attachment, an imprint etched into the very depths of her soul.
A tiny white light suddenly appeared in the darkness. It was so abrupt, like a faint flame, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.
However, in the darkness, her tightly closed eyes sensed this glimmer of light, bringing a subtle change to the eternal darkness.
She blinked her blurry eyes hard, as if this small movement had exhausted her. She squinted at the only sliver of light, as if even this tiny glimmer was burning her eyelids.
The white light began to tremble, like ripples in water, struggling desperately. Each tremor was like a small tear, allowing more white light to enter.
Gradually, the white light grew larger and larger, forming a patch of light and shadow.
The light and shadow trembled incessantly, then gradually stopped, converging into a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar.
For some reason, her eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Who is this? Her long-sealed memories couldn't recall this person's origins at all, but there was still a trace of this person in her life's imprint.
"Yaqi, I've come to pick you up..."
A small stone gently fell into the deep pool, causing a slight ripple.
"Yaqi, I've come to pick you up..."
The ripples gradually spread and increased, eventually stirring up towering waves.
"Yaqi, I've come to pick you up..."
At that moment, a tear suddenly slid down Zhang Yaqi's tightly closed eyes. The crystal-clear liquid shone like pearls in the darkness, radiating a captivating luster.
I firmly believe that we will meet again.
Wenbing, I will try my best... I definitely will try my best.
I firmly believe that I will strive to keep up with you and will not become a burden to you.
Your aptitude is worlds apart from Xiao Wenbing's. If you want to catch up with him, perhaps... the Qiankun Circle is your only hope.
This is the only hope...
Persistence... perseverance...
She gripped the Qiankun Ring tightly with both hands again, and her legs were filled with power once more, allowing her to stand up abruptly from the ground.
She finally opened her eyes, her gaze fixed on the bright white light that was still slowly approaching her, and a joyful smile appeared on her lips.
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